Shallow Water Bonefish

Bruce Chard
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September 22, 2011

When the tide just starts to flood the flat, bonefish can be found pushing up on the flat in super shallow water looking for little critters still left over from foraging on the prior low. This photo gives you a great prospective of what the bonefish sees from under the water. Here are some tips that you can remember when fishing these super shallow water fish.

· Make sure to give shallow water bonefish a good lead so your fly hitting the water doesn't spook them.

· Strip slowly — the shallower the water the less distance the fish can see. This makes the fish have to get close to the fly in order to see it. What seems like a slow strip to us seems really fast to the bones in such shallow water. Slower strips will seem less invasive and more intriguing and will increase odds of hook ups.

· Remember the shallower the water the more patient you will need to be when waiting for the fish to close in on your presented fly. If you strip to early the fly might not be close enough for the bone to see. Remember they can't see very far in shallow water depth. Wait till you are certain the fly is near the fish to insure a definite intercept point.

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